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6 Editorial with Frances Niblock THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010 Double Whammy Acton's business community took a double hit this week ­ Achilles Mazda announced after three decades in Acton, it is relocating to a new Milton location, and Godfathers Pizza is closing its doors ­ a victim of a slumping economy and the recent opening of Dominos Pizza. While Achilles Pelitus Jr., the dealer principal, tried to put a positive spin on the move, it still means that Acton is losing a cornerstone business that employs 15 people ­ all of whom will keep their jobs. Pelitus said the move ­ which promoted emotional tears from his mother who helped build the business ­ was sparked by Mazda Canada who gave dealerships until the end of December to "re-image" themselves, not a financially viable option in Acton. As well, Pelitus said Mazda would most likely have opened a dealership in Milton within the next 18 months ­ a move that would have cut into Acton sales and service. The Pelitus story is a true rags to riches tale. Achilles Sr. and his wife Litsa came to Acton from Greece in 1972 with nothing. Within two years they opened a repair garbage and began representing Mazda in 1977 ­ nurturing the business into one of the most decorated dealerships in Canada. Pelitus is confident current and potential customers will not mind the 12-minute drive to the new Milton location, and said that the future of the Acton location is undecided, but he'd like some sort of automotive use to continue, even if the land and building is sold. Godfathers officials were not so emotional about the announced May 16 closure. Head office said it was purely a financial decision because of two years of dwindling sales and stiff competition from Dominos. Seven workers will lose their jobs with no hope of relocation as the nearest Godfathers store is in Durham. Tough times call for tough measures, but the loss of two businesses in any small town is bad news. GET BACK: The new Links2Care Backpack Program that provides a free backpack containing essential school items to local under-privileged kids was officially launched last Wednesday at Acton High School. On hand were, from left: Links2Care Executive Director Sandra McHuish, Councillor Jon Hurst, Emilie Doucette, Councillor Mike O'Leary, Kendzy Lakin, Mayor Rick Bonnette, Shannon Pickering, Councillor Clark Somerville, Links2Care's Cathy Gerrow and Patty Colautti. ­ Denise Paulsen photo Angela wants an invite Monday is the highlight of the mail week. It is the day I get my People magazine, a subscription my sister gave me for Christmas. Last Monday, the cover was of Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton. It was such a pleasant change from the normal covers of Tiger Woods or Sandra Bullock or that irritating Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Plus Eight fame. For a while, I was really starting to wonder why I wanted the subscription after months of the same old same old. As I was reading the article about their Royal lives together and their possible engagement, I was quite happy. I feel as if I have grown up with the Royal Family. My grandmother was an avid follower and even some of the things she left me after she passed were trinkets and souvenirs of the Royals. Over the years, I have had the privilege of visiting England and seeing Buckingham Palace and even Windsor Castle. It's Angela Tyler hard not to get all caught up in the Royal hoopla when you're visiting overseas. I suppose though it is hard for some to get the whole Royal thing. It seems in a way a distant tradition of centuries gone by. As well, sometimes the young Royals seem almost anything but Royal. There of course have been scandals over the past few decades and there was the unbelievable press and obsession with the late Princess Diana. However, with all the pros and cons, I still enjoy reading about them. William and Kate seem perfect for each other. The odds makers truly believe that this spring they will announce their engagement. They have been together for years and grown together through school and By Looking Back 10 Years Ago · The search for a new ambulance station in Acton is put on the back burner as the Region sorts out its land ambulance service, which it takes over from the province on January 1, 2001. · While not suggesting that Acton residents become vigilantes in the fight against vandalism, Acton Councillor Norm Elliott said the "mindless stupidity that is costing us all money" has to stop. ·Halton police are "disturbed" by what they call "fire play" occurrences at Limehouse Public School that involved a plastic playground slide and a newspaper box being torched. Five Years Ago · Cancer survivors circled the track at Acton High School, raising money for cancer research in the Survivor's Lap at the annual Relay for Life. · Love it or hate it ­ there were no halfway opinions from people at a meeting to discuss plans for a public transit system in North Halton. · The Town will pay a $1,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction of the "disrespectful imbeciles" who vandalized Remembrance Park in Georgetown. even a short "break" in their relationship. However, with all that they have experienced good and bad, they remain true to one another. How can you not be excited for them? They are beautiful people who do good and seem to have the world and don't seem like some of the Royals who are Royal in name but not in action. Most people will remember Princess Diana's engagement and that picture of her all doeeyed posing with her Prince and her gorgeous sapphire engagement ring, not to mention the Cinderella-esque fanfare of a wedding. With all the horrible things that happen in the world like what Haiti has experienced through to the tough financial times most are seeing, what a thrill it would be to live, just for a moment, vicariously through a young woman who will hopefully be proposed to and then be marrying the man of her dreams, who just happens to be a Prince. Publisher Ted Tyler Editor Frances Niblock Distributed to every home in Acton and area, as well as adjoining communities. Every effort will be made to see advertising copy, neatly presented, is correctly printed. The publisher assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors or omissions in advertising, but will gladly reprint without charge that part of an advertisement in which an error may occur provided a claim is made within five days of publication. All articles, advertisements and graphic artwork appearing in The New Tanner is copyrighted. Any usage, reproduction or publication of these items, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher of The New Tanner is a copyright infringement and subject to legal action. Mike O'Leary Angela Tyler Denise Paulsen Editorial Contributors email: thenewtanner@on.aibn.com 373 Queen Street East, Unit 1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2N2 Advertising and Circulation Marie Shadbolt (519) 853-0051 Fax: (519) 853-0052 Composing Ken Baker